11 Voices
| Date Composed: | 1997 |
| Composer: | Kiyoshi Nagata |
| Arrangement: | Kiyoshi Nagata |
| Recording Title: | Tenkai CD |
Inspired by Ravel’s Bolero, this piece takes a simple rhythmic theme played one by one, on eleven taiko of various tones. As each taiko or voice completes the theme, it joins in on a slow, driving ji-uchi (base rhythm). The result is an ever expanding palette of textures and sounds growing in volume as each taiko is introduced. Bowed inkin (Buddhist cupbells) and a drone produced by rubbing the outer edge of a kin (a bowl shaped Buddhist gong) are used create an unearthly atmosphere and a sense of urgency.